Automatic control for artificial light for poultry houses



July 3, 1934. A. R. EARNSHAW' 1,964,846

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR POULTRY HOUSES Filed July 15. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l cgsl I l/YSULA I" m it N I INVENTOR.

I ALv/N R.An-sHAw W 4 Co. E, V ATTORNEYS.

July 3, 1934. A R. EARNSHAW 5 AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR POULTRY HOUSES Filed July is, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l 44 51 fi u I i 3 I o 48 .35 4? INVENTOR. ALvl/v R. fnrz/vsh'nw ATTORNEYS.

I 1 'L 9 BY 7W 4 O0.

Patented July 3, 1934.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR POULTRY HOUSES Alvin B. Earnshaw, Petaluma, Calif.

Application July 13, 1931, Serial No. 550,587

4 Claims.

' My invention relates to improvements in automatic control for artificial light for poultry houses and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an automatic control for artificial light for poultry houses in which time controlled means is used for automatically turning on the lights in the poultry house in the morning a predetermined time before daylight and for again turning on the lights in the evening for a predetermined time period after darkness. The invention also makes use of novel means for causing the lights to gradually get brighter to simulate the advance of day,

and in the evening to gradually get dimmer to simulate approaching evening. During the day between sunrise and sunset the lights are turned off.

Other objects and advantages will appear in' the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompany- 1 upon which I mount two motors 2 and 3 connected to each other by a shaft 4. The motor 2; is for rotating the shaft in one direction and the motor 3 is for rotating the shaft in the opposite direction. The shaft 4 carries a helical gear 5 that meshes with a helical gear 6 mounted upon a shaft 7 which extends at right angles to the shaft 4. The shaft 7 rotates a third shaft 8 (see Figure 2) by means of two helical gears 9 and 10. The third shaft has a worm 11 meshing with a large worm gear 12 which is mounted upon a screw shaft 13. The shaft 13 is rotatably mounted in bearings supported by a frameandindicated generally at 14, this frame in turn being carried by the base 1.

The purpose of the screw shaft 13 is to move a carrier 15 between the ends of the frame 14. The speed of the shaft 13 is such, and the threads on the shaft are flne enough, asto cause the carrier 15 to slowly move from one end to the other end of the shaft. The carrier 15 is prevented from rotating about the screw shaft 13 by guide rods 16 that pass through sleeves 17 secured to the carrier. A conductor trolley 18 is secured to the carrier 15 and is insulated therefrom by insulating blocks 19. Figure 4 clearly shows how the conductor block 18 carries a spring pressed terminal or shoe 19' that bears against the under side of a conductor rail 20. The bottom of the block 18 has a. terminal or shoe 21 that rides over a plurality of conductor strips 22 which are, securedto aninsulating member 23. Figure 1 shows the insulating member 23 as being supported by the frame 14.

A resistance wire or coil is formed into a series of loops 24 and extends around an insulating bar 25.; The strips 22 are connected to the coil 24 at predetermined distances along the coil and I will later describe a circuit making use of the resistance coil for controlling the current flowing to lights 26 (see Figure 5).

I provide a timing mechanism such as a clock 2'1 (see Figure 1) for starting and stopping the motors 2 and 3. I further provide a number of switches which are actuated by the carrier 15 for controlling the operation of the device. In Figure 5 I show a gear 28 actuated by the clock 2'! and carrying one or more terminals 29. Two terminals 29 are shown in the drawings although one or more may be used. I further show spring terminal plates 30, 31, 32 and 33 designed to be contacted by the terminals 29.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

A wire 34 (see Figure 5) leads from a source of current and is grounded to the gear 28. The gear is rotated in a clockwise direction and I show the pin 29 contacting with the terminal 33. Assume, however, that the pin 29 is contacting with the terminal 30 and that the conductor block 18 is disposed at the extreme right hand end of its travel, i. e. the end nearest the motors 2 and 3. The carrier 15 when in this position will engage with levers 35 and 36 of switches 37 and 38 and will hold the switches open. The-particular type of switch used is shown in Figure 3 and it will be noted that the switch arm 35 of the switch 3'7 is pivoted at 39 and a spring 40 yieldingly holds the terminals 41 in contact with each other. The pressing of the carrier 15 against the depending portion of the lever 35 will move the terminals 41 away from each other and open the switch.

when the pin 29 contacts with the terminal 30 current will flow throush h Wi s 28.

pin 29,.contact 30, wire 42, and switch 43 similar to the switches 37 and 38 but disposed at the opposite end of the frame 14 from the first two switches, wire 44, motor 3, wire 45, wire 46, and back to the source oi current. This will start the motor 3 to rotating which in turn through the mechanism described will cause the carrier 15 to move away from the switches 3'1 and 38 and permit the springs in these switches to close them.

As soon as the switch 37 is closed current will flow from the wire 34 through a wire 47, switch 37, wire 48, resistance coil 24, conductor block 18, conductor rail 20, wire 49, lights 26 and wire 46. The lights will be dimly lighted because the cur-- rent will have to flow through the entire resistance 24. The motor 3 continues to operate and the carrier 15 will be slowly moved from a position adjacent to the switches 37 and 38 to a posi-v tion adjacent to the switch 43. During this entire time the gear 28 is moving so slowly as to keep the pin 29 in contact with the terminal 30. The movement of the carrier 15 from the right to the left in Figure 1 will move the conductor block 18 so as to gradually cut out resistance and the lights 26 will gradually grow brighter. The time taken in causing the lights to grow brighter can be properly gauged so as to cover any desired amount of time. When the carrier 15 strikes the switch 43 it will open it and break the circuit to the motor 3. At this point the carrier will come to a standstill and the lights 26 will be fully illuminated.

The pin 29 now passes from the terminal 30 to the terminal 31 and these two terminals can be spaced anydesired distance apart so as to allow the lights to be fully illuminated over any given time period. When the pin 29 contacts with the terminal 31 the current will flow through a wire 50, the closed switch 38, a wire 51, the motor 2, a wire 53, and the ,wire 46. This will cause the motor 2 to operate and the carrier 15 will now slowly move to its starting position and the lights will gradually grow dim until finally the switches 37 and 38 will again be opened by the carrier and the circuit to the motor 2 will be opened and so likewise will be the circuit to the lights 26. I have given the operation for gradually causing the lights to grow brighter, to stay bright for a given period of time, and then to gradually grow dim, all of this taking place in the morning. The device is so timed that the lights will grow dim and then finally be turned out when it is daylight.

The same operation is repeated in the evening, but in this instance the terminals 32 and 33 are used. The terminal 32 connects with the wire 42 and this causes the motor 3 to actuate while the terminal 33 is connected to the wire 50, and this causes the motor 2 to actuate. In all other respects the operation of the device in theeyening is identical to that in the morning, and therefore needs no further description.

In the present showing of the device the gear 28 is designed to make one complete rotation every 43 hours, andtwo pins 29 are used.

-While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changesor modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a source of current, illuminating means electrically connected to the source, a switch and a resistance connected in the circuit, a movable conductor for cutting in and out the resistance, electrically actuated means ior moving the conductor for gradually cutting out resistance and including a second switch, electrically actuated means for moving the conductor for gradually cutting in resistance and including a third switch, time controlled switches connected in series with the last two switches, 'said first named conductor moving means being connected to the source 01 current when its associated time switch is closed, ,said conductor in moving causing the light switch and the third switch to close, and aftercompleting its movement in one direction, causing the second switch to open, said second named conductor moving means being actuated when its associate time switch is closed and causing the conductor to close the second switch at the start of its movement and to open the light switch. and third switch at the end of its movement.

2. A poultry house illuminating device comprising a light, an electric circuit therefor including a resistance, a switch and time controlled means for closing the switch and for gradually cutting out the resistance just prior to dawn so as to gradually illuminate the light and then after daylight to gradually diminish the lights intensity by gradually cutting in the resistance, and thereafter opening said switch.

3. A poultry house illuminating device comprising a light, an electric circuit therefor including a resistance, a switch and time controlled means for closing the switch and for gradually cutting out the resistance just prior to dawn so as to gradually illuminate the light and then after daylight to gradually diminish the lights intensity by gradually cutting in the resistance, and

'the switch for permitting the switch to close and then iorgradually cutting out the resistance, and then for moving the conductor in the opposite direction for cutting in the resistance and then for opening the switch, and time-controlled means for starting the operation of said first-named means.

ALVIN a. EARNSHA'W. 

